Founded in 2019, Kingwhip’s debut album Endless is an uncompromising statement of the band’s songwriting and musical prowess. Released at the end of May, the album spices up the band’s distinctive blend of grunge and heavy rock with catchy melodies, resulting in a raw and soulful nine-track record that remains cohesive from start to finish.
Also described as an alternative heavy band, Kingwhip comes from Finland. The band has strong roots in the Finnish music underground. Its members are known from, among others, Huora, one of Finland’s most popular punk bands, as well as the cult-favourite Day Eleven and Rytmihäiriö.
“Our shared favourites include, for example, Alice In Chains and Black Sabbath, while the vocal melodies may echo artists such as Neil Young, David Bowie and Type O Negative,” says the band’s vocalist and guitarist Janne Pajari.
The album features the previously released singles “Walk Away”, “Like A Wrecking Ball” and “What A Time To Be Alive”. A music video has also been released for “Walk Away”.
Endless was recorded and produced by Timo Väänänen at Saarisound Studio. The album was released both digitally and on vinyl.
Kingwhip released their first singles, “Shut Up!” and “Brinkdish”, in 2023. The following year saw the release of a six-track EP, after which the band took some time to focus on preparing their now-released debut album.
The album tracks: Walk Away What A Time To Be Alive Gettaway All In, All Out Every Good Boy Tumble Endless Highways Hell Hangs Over Like A Wrecking Ball
THE GHOULSTARS, the Finnish horror punk supergroup behind this year’s debut album The Dark Overlords of the Universe, have been confirmed as the opening act for TURMION KÄTILÖT’s Resodance Tour 2026. The band will play six dates across Finland between December 3 and December 19, 2026, hitting Jyväskylä, Joensuu, Seinäjoki, Oulu and Turku.
Before releasing a single track, The Ghoulstars had already built a reputation on the strength of their live shows, sharing stages with established acts and headlining gigs on the back of word of mouth alone. The Resodance dates mark their first extended run since the release of their debut, giving audiences a first look at how the album’s mix of metal riffing, punk rock choruses and B-movie theatrics translates to the stage.
The Ghoulstars x Turmion Kätilöt — Resodance Tour 2026-2027: 3 December: Jyväskylä, FI @ Lutakko 4 December: Jyväskylä, FI @ Lutakko 5 December: Joensuu, FI @ Kerubi 11 December: Seinäjoki, FI @ Rytmikorjaamo 12 December: Oulu, FI @ Tarkastamo 19 December: Turku, FI @ Teatro
The tour follows the May 15th release of The Dark Overlords of the Universe via Season of Mist, mixed and mastered by V. Santura of Triptykon. Opening for Turmion Kätilöt puts The Ghoulstars in front of one of Finland’s biggest cult live draws, a natural pairing for a band built on theatrical, genre-blurring performance.
The Dark Overlords of the Universe remains available now across digital download, CD digipak and 12″ vinyl gatefold, including a coloured yellow, red and white marbled pressing. With the Resodance dates approaching, there’s no better window to catch up on the album before hearing it live.
They Dance Upon Our Graves (3:52) Full runtime: 33:37
Old crusty metalheads can be stuck in their ways, but THE GHOULSTARS are a fresh—and frightening—blast from the past. Since invading the land of the living back in 2021, the horror punk supergroup has captivated press and tantalized crowds in their native haunt of Finland without releasing a single bloody track. Until now! Evil mastermind Markus “Daddy Ghoul” Laakso and his fellow pop-culture junkies are raising the cobwebbed curtain from their blockbuster debut album. On The Dark Overlords of the Universe, no tome is too sacred for these ghouls to summon back to life!
“The Dark Overlords of the Universe is a love letter to our fifteen-year-old selves”, Laakso says. “It’s crammed with headbanging metal riffs, shout-along punk rock choruses, B-movie easter eggs, ‘80s aesthetics, surprising curveballs and the sheer joy of all the pieces falling into the right places. Move over, Rover, and let the ghouls take over!”.
Despite their ghostly appearance, The Ghoulstars are a collection of real talent. Axeman Laakso and goose-bumping drummer Toni “Ghoulio” Ronkainen shared a past life together in the Top Ten charting Finnish death-doom band Kuolemanlaakso. Bassist Markus “Hella Ghoul” Makkonen formerly haunted the low end for Season of Mist labelmates Hooded Menace while moonhowler Arthur “LL Ghoul A” Thure croons for the stoner rockers Thermate.
Banding The Ghoulstars together is a freaky obsession with the classic metal, punk and movies that blew their minds as kids. The Dark Overlords of the Universe is named after the many-teethed mutants from the 1986 cult classic Howard the Duck. “I grew up during a time when movies in Finland were censored, so my hobby was collecting uncensored VHS tapes of horror and sci-fi movies any way I could”, Laakso reveals. As a young skeleton, he frequently raided European record store crates for The Misfits, Bad Religion and obscure metal finds though the album’s lead single spun off from his schooling in the U.S. With Mötley Crüe’s pomp and the can’t-do attitude of Twisted Sister roaming its halls, lead single “Too Ghoul for School” is jam-packed with more fun-filled ‘80s antics than Saturday afternoon detention.
“Fast Times at Ridgemont High, The Lost Boys and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off are some of my favorite movies”, Laakso applauds. “I love the cliched characters: the nerds, the jocks, the cool kids and the rebels. They remind me of my junior high school days”.
To bring their ingenious creation to life, The Ghoulstars summoned V. Santura of the mighty Triptykon for the mixing and mastering of The Dark Overlords of the Universe. “Graverobbers from Outer Space” pays homage to Ed Wood’s B-horror classic Plan 9 from Outer Space with a straight-up headbanging chorus, though not many clear-cut punk rippers are enlivened by a doomy C-part and güiro. “That’s one of my favorite moments on the album”, Laakso recalls before relishing the song’s death metal finish. The Wolfman, a zombie apocalypse, the brain that wouldn’t die and other cultishly beloved touchstones jump out during the album’s crisp 34-minute runtime. Though the band also enter original plots to horror’s hallowed crypt. Set amidst the cruel unfeeling world of the Wild West, “The Dead in Purgatory” rides a galloping melody after Morricone’s heart into a sunset that’s colored by the fifty shades of Volbeat.
“No spoilers, but all cowboy hats aside, that song deals with feeling hopeless and abandoned by someone close to you who needs but refuses your help”, teases Laakso.
The Ghoulstars may be undead, but there’s nothing pale or lifeless about The Dark Overlords of the Universe. The title track crosses surf beats, heavy riffing and a hair-raising transition into a chorus that’s absolutely to die for. “We can’t wait to unleash this delightful horror upon the world”, Daddy Ghoul says with an ominous glint in his bloodshot eye. “As V. Santura told me: ‘The record is unique, catchy and a really fun listen’”.
With The Dark Overlords of the Universe, The Ghoulstars direct a monstrously catchy mash-up between metal, punk and B-horror.
Lineup: Markus “Daddy Ghoul” Laakso — Guitars Toni “Ghoulio” Ronkainen — Drums Arthur “LL Ghoul A” Thure — Vocals Markus “Hella Ghoul” Makkonen — Bass
Guest Musicians: Mathias “Vreth” Lillmåns (…and Oceans, Finntrol) — Backing Growls Tommi “Tuple” Salmela (Tarot, Raskasta Joulua, Lazy Bones) — Backing Vocals on “The Dark Overlords of the Universe”)
Production Credits: Produced by Markus Laakso. Guitars recorded by Markus Laakso and Erkka Närhi. Vocals recorded by Markus Laakso and Mathias “Vreth” Lillmåns. Drums recorded by Erkka Närhi. Bass recorded by Samu Männikkö and Markus Laakso. Percussion recorded by Markus Laakso. Mixed & Mastered by V. Santura at Woodshed Studio in Germany.
Laser Dracul started out in 2015 in a small industrial town called Borlänge in the middle of Sweden. When they started they had the intention to play influenced by the music they really like and make some heavy music. Laser Dracul heavily influenced by the heavy bands of the 60, 70 and 80s.
In early 2016 they record their first four songs that ended up on their first record that was released as self titled in December 2016 on the German label Van Records.
In late 2019 they went in to the studio once again and recorded six new songs that became the album Hagridden. The album Hagridden was released by Swedish label Majestic Mountain Records in autumn 2020.
In September their third album Hin Håle Blues will be released by Majestic Mountain Records. Hin Håle blues is recorded at the same studio as the two previous albums, at Sellnoise studios in Borlänge Sweden.
Norwegian progressive metal band MESSIER 16 have unveiled their new single “Gloom-Chaser”, the second preview of their upcoming album “Shouts from the Cliffs of Heterodoxy”, due out on October 23rd, 2026 via Time To Kill Records.
Despite its considerable running time, “Gloom-Chaser” feels remarkably agile and fresh, constantly shifting between ideas without ever losing its grip. The track unfolds through a series of unexpected turns, balancing progressive intricacy with a natural sense of momentum that keeps the listener locked in from beginning to end. As with the rest of the album, MESSIER 16 use these stylistic and structural shifts to explore unstable states of mind, creating a song that is as absorbing in its details as it is compelling as a whole.
“‘Gloom Chaser’ explores the point where melancholy stops being just an emotion and becomes something we mistake for truth, comfort and even identity. The song unfolds as a dialogue between someone trapped inside that belief and a friend trying to challenge it, asking whether melancholy is something that needs to heal or something we unconsciously choose to hold on to. Musically, we wanted to mirror that tension, moving from urgency and bittersweet energy into darker, more introspective and atmospheric territory”.
Tracklist:
1. Nostalgia Theft Reminiscence 2. Blank Absurdist Form 3. Gloom-Chaser 4. Holoparasite 5. Time-Swayed Cities 6. Glittering Afterwaves 7. Perennial Shift I – Moss 8. Perennial Shift II – Evergreen 9. Perennial Shift III – Plietesial 10. Mollusk Herald 11. Dream Heritage Veto 12. Trauma Gift Repression
“Shouts from the Cliffs of Heterodoxy” is an hourlong descent into the fractured landscapes of delusion. On their third full-length album, Messier 16 deliver their most ambitious and cohesive statement yet, a record that inhabits its characters as much as it describes them, drawing the listener into worlds where perception and reality blur beyond recognition.
Rather than presenting a single storyline, the album unfolds as a gallery of portraits, each song a self-contained study of a mind caught in its own distortions. The voices here are contradictory, volatile, and human: a nostalgia that grieves for something that never happened, a city dweller unable to recognise the time they live in, a cynic who tears down without ever building, a figure convinced that change can only be granted by others. Together, they form a mosaic of inner worlds — intimate, strange, and often unsettling.
Musically, the record ranges from the precision and velocity of technical black metal to the earthbound weight of doom, the ethereal scope of post-metal, and the stark beauty of choral arrangements. Every shift in style is in service of the narrative, moving seamlessly from moments of brute force to passages of stillness and introspection. The choral bookends, “Nostalgia Theft Reminiscence” and “Trauma Gift Repression”, frame the chaos between them like hands holding a fragile sphere, offering both a sense of symmetry and the reminder that beauty and disquiet can occupy the same breath.
At its heart, “Shouts from the Cliffs of Heterodoxy” is not a work of answers, but of questions. It resists resolution, allowing its characters to remain ambiguous, neither condemned nor redeemed. In doing so, it invites the listener to stand on the same cliff edge, to hear the shouts carried by the wind, and to decide for themselves whether they are being beckoned forward — or warned to turn back.
Hailing from Oslo, MESSIER 16 have established a distinct identity within contemporary progressive metal through a sound that is intricate, inventive and at times deliberately unconventional, yet always marked by a strong sense of elegance and compositional coherence. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Ihsahn, Enslaved and Devin Townsend, the band embraces a forward-thinking approach where extreme metal serves as the starting point for a broader and highly personal sonic exploration. Heavy rhythmic structures, layered guitar work and sharp dynamic contrasts coexist with atmospheric passages, orchestral textures and emotionally driven songwriting, resulting in a musical language that remains adventurous without ever losing sight of structure and songcraft.
The band consists of Jonas Eide (guitars, composer, lyricist), Sondre M. Svalastog (vocals), Aleksander Ilievski (guitars, producer), Nicolo Cavallaro (bass) and Jonathan Hamre (drums). Through their work, MESSIER 16 have developed a deeply narrative and expressive approach, exploring psychological and emotional themes through a form of portrait-like lyricism focused on the inner lives of individuals and the actions stemming from them.
Their previous albums, “Iota” and “Death Poems”, already showcased the band’s ambition and conceptual depth. While the former dealt with mental health struggles and emotional fragility, the latter drew inspiration from publicly available suicide notes, confronting themes of despair and human vulnerability with striking intensity and sensitivity.
Now preparing to unveil their third full-length album, MESSIER 16 further refine their sonic identity while venturing into new musical and lyrical territory. The upcoming record promises a more mature and expansive vision of the band’s progressive approach, balancing technical sophistication, atmospheric depth and emotional resonance within a highly cohesive framework.
NORTH SEA ECHOES, the project featuring progressive metal pioneers, singer Ray Alder and guitarist Jim Matheos, of Fates Warning, today unveils a video for “Good Enough.” The sentimental track appears on the band’s latest studio album, How To Cast A Shadow, out now on Metal Blade Records.
Comments Alder, “‘Good Enough’ was one of the first songs written for How To Cast A Shadow. It’s a simple yet beautiful song, and it quickly became one of my favorite songs that Jim and I had written together. While we never intended for it to be released as a single or video we decided that while we were together for a photo shoot we would also shoot a video for this. I think that we both agreed that this song was just too nice not to be shared with others.“
Watch NORTH SEA ECHOES‘ previously released video for “Enjoy The View” HERE and “I’ll Leave A Light On” video HERE.
On NORTH SEA ECHOES‘ 2024-released Really Good Terrible Things full-length, Alder and Matheos garnered rave reviews for songs that possessed, “liberating sonic space and emotional vulnerability… from somnambulant electro-fog to gritty, overdriven disquiet, to the quietly devastating (Blabbermouth).” With How To Cast A Shadow, the band’s identity is further expanded upon and explored.
“This record is a bit heavier,” asserts Matheos, “with several more songs featuring real drums, played by Dennis Leeflang. It wasn’t necessarily intentional or planned, just the way things shaped up and how they emerged this time.“
From the radio-ready rock of “All That Comes After” and the intimate, escalating “A Time Of Innocence And Purpose” to the powerful, timeless ballad “Villains Or Saints,” How To Cast A Shadow cohesively crosses genres and challenges aural preconceptions.
Writes Metal Hammer, “Evoking the feeling of Geoff Tate returning to his prime and Queensrÿche reconnecting with their greatest strengths, How To Cast A Shadow is nothing short of a catchy, anthemic, and captivating masterpiece that explores the full spectrum of timeless progressive rock… a sheer delight.” New Noise Magazine agrees, “Atmospheric, melancholic, ambient… this is the way NORTH SEA ECHOES navigates through while composing their music. Their sound takes one to a gloomy voyage that deals with the feeling of yearning and nostalgia. Yet, the music is so captivating that you keep playing it on and on.”
The Prog Report notes, “In the wide variety of progressive bands that are out there, this album capitalizes on the simplicity and honesty of music in one of its most organic forms: pure, raw emotion… How To Cast A Shadow is proof that you don’t need overly complex songs for you to feel the music. There’s a shade of melancholy that permeates the album and provides glue that holds the songs together. When it comes to feeling music, the question of ‘how’ doesn’t factor as much as ‘why.’ Explore the ‘why.’” Adds Maximum Volume Music, “How To Cast A Shadow does not abandon the sound of the debut; it expands it. The darkness remains, but this time there are louder drums, heavier guitars and even greater emotional weight. It turns out those shadows still contain plenty of really good things.”
The duo’s shared and separate histories help to forge a fresh creative opus. Alder has been the vocalist and main co-writer for prog metal heroes Fates Warning for 37 years, recording ten albums between 1988 (No Exit) and 2020 (Long Day Good Night). Rounding out his discography are seven albums with Redemption, two solo records, and the band A-Z, which debuted in 2022.
Revered guitarist and producer Matheos is a cofounder of Fates Warning, the lineup debuting with 1984’s Night On Bröcken on Metal Blade. In addition to thirteen albums with Fates Warning, Matheos launched several solo albums, four LPs alongside former Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore under the name OSI, and Kings Of Mercia, which launched in 2022.
How To Cast A Shadow is out now on CD and digital formats. Preview/purchase the record at: metalblade.com/northseaechoes
How to Cast a Shadow Track Listing: 01. A Time of Innocence and Purpose 02. Enjoy the View 03. Good Enough 04. I’ll Leave a Light On 05. All Fall Away 06. Revenge 07. Villains or Saints 08. What Is and What Was 09. All That Comes After 10. How to Cast a Shadow
For the first time since 2004, founding vocalist and guitarist Jari Mäenpää will reunite with Ensiferum (Markus, Petri, Janne, Sami, and Pekka) for very special live shows – marking his first appearance with the band outside of Finland.
This reunion will celebrate the early era of Ensiferum, focusing on the material that defined the band’s legacy and helped shape the modern folk metal landscape.
Fans will witness Jari performing lead vocals on the songs he originally recorded, in a setlist spanning: • 1997 Demo Tape • Ensiferum (2001) • Iron (2004) • Dragonheads (2006) • Victory Songs (2007)
From fan favorites to deeper cuts and rare early tracks, this performance will be a definitive tribute to Ensiferum‘s formative years – and a rare opportunity to see Jari return to the material that first brought him international acclaim.
The band states: “This is more than a show – it’s a return to the roots. To the energy and vision that started it all.“
Jari adds: “I’m excited and honored to be joining Ensiferum for these very special ‘Early Years’ live shows! After more than 20 years, I’ll be performing with Ensiferum again. I can’t wait to sing these classic songs with you all. See you there!“
Whether you have followed Ensiferum since the demo days or discovered them through the legends of Finnish metal, this is a historic reunion that no fan will want to miss.
ABOUT JARI MÄENPÄÄ Jari Mäenpää is a Finnish multi-instrumentalist, composer, and one of the founding members of Ensiferum. He performed vocals and guitar on the band’s first two studio albums – Ensiferum (2001) and Iron (2004) – before departing to form Wintersun in 2004, a band that would go on to achieve its own cult status in the extreme metal world. His style and songwriting helped define the sound of Scandinavian epic folk metal, blending blistering melodic riffs, heroic storytelling, and deeply rooted Finnish musical traditions into a blueprint that inspired an entire generation of bands.
ABOUT ENSIFERUM Ensiferum – Latin for “sword bearing” – are one of the most enduring and beloved bands in folk metal. Founded in Helsinki, Finland in 1995 by guitarist Markus Toivonen, the band has spent three decades forging a signature sound that blends ferocious melodic death metal with sweeping folk melodies, heroic battle anthems, and deeply rooted Scandinavian tradition.
After a series of early demos that earned them a deal with Spinefarm Records, Ensiferum released their self-titled debut in 2001 – a record widely regarded as a landmark of the genre. Their sophomore album Iron (2004), recorded at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen with producer Flemming Rasmussen, further cemented their reputation. Following Jari Mäenpää’s departure to form Wintersun, guitarist and vocalist Petri Lindroos stepped into the role, and the band continued to evolve and expand their reach without missing a step.
Across nine studio albums – including Victory Songs (2007), From Afar (2009), Unsung Heroes (2012), One Man Army (2015), Two Paths (2017), Thalassic (2020), and Winter Storm (2024) – Ensiferum have remained one of the genre’s most consistent and passionate acts, headlining major international festivals and touring across the globe. Their catalogue spans Spinefarm Records and Metal Blade Records, and their fanbase spans continents.
Today the band consists of Markus Toivonen (guitars, vocals), Petri Lindroos (vocals, guitars), Sami Hinkka (bass, vocals), Janne Parviainen (drums), and Pekka Montin (keyboards, vocals) – a lineup that continues to carry the Ensiferum torch with fire, pride, and the spirit of warriors.
Watch ENSIFERUM‘s previously released videos for “Winter Storm Vigilantes,” “Long Cold Winter Of Sorrow And Strife,” “Fatherland,” and “The Howl,” which, when viewed consecutively, create a short movie, HERE.
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
